Valrico is getting a Whole Foods. Not a rumor. Construction plans have been filed with Hillsborough County, and the 38,000-square-foot store will occupy the former Fresh Market and Stein Mart spaces at the Lithia Crossing plaza on Lithia Pinecrest Road, just south of Bloomingdale Avenue.

This will be the first Whole Foods on the east side of Tampa Bay and only the third in all of Hillsborough County.

What We Know

Whole Foods, owned by Amazon, is combining two former retail spaces at Lithia Crossing to create the new location. The Fresh Market closed, and the Stein Mart space had been vacant for roughly four years (aside from the annual Halloween pop-up store). Kite Realty, which owns Lithia Crossing, revised the plaza's site plan to show the 38,000-square-foot anchor plus two additional retail units that will be available for lease.

The exact opening date has not been publicly announced. Construction plans are filed and the project is moving forward.

Why It Matters

A Whole Foods does not just sell groceries. It signals that a national retailer with data-driven site selection has looked at Valrico's demographics, growth trajectory, and spending patterns and decided this community is worth a major investment. That confidence attracts other businesses. Expect to see interest from complementary retailers, restaurants, and services looking to locate near the new anchor.

For homeowners, proximity to premium amenities like Whole Foods is a documented factor in property values. Real estate agents across the country reference the "Whole Foods Effect," the tendency for home values to increase in neighborhoods near a Whole Foods location. Whether that translates directly to Valrico remains to be seen, but the pattern is well-established in other markets.

For daily life, it means organic produce, specialty items, and prepared foods within a short drive of most Valrico neighborhoods, without trekking to South Tampa or Carrollwood.

The Bigger Picture

The Whole Foods development fits into a broader pattern of commercial maturation in Valrico. For decades, residents have driven to Brandon or South Tampa for anything beyond Publix and Winn-Dixie. That is changing. The Bloomingdale Avenue and Lithia Pinecrest corridors continue to add dining, retail, and medical services. Valrico is evolving from a bedroom community that sends its residents elsewhere to shop into a more self-contained destination.

The Lithia Pinecrest Road widening project, combined with the Whole Foods anchor, will reshape the commercial identity of the Buckhorn corridor over the next several years. This is one of the most significant commercial developments in Valrico's modern history.

What to Watch

Keep an eye on what fills the two additional retail units next to Whole Foods at Lithia Crossing. The tenants Amazon and Kite Realty attract will tell you a lot about where the Valrico market is heading. Premium coffee shops, fitness studios, and health-focused restaurants are the typical pattern around a Whole Foods anchor.

We will update this post as opening date details are announced.

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Barrett Henry is a Broker Associate with RE/MAX Collective, serving Valrico and Tampa Bay. For current Valrico listings, call (813) 733-7907 or visit nowtb.com.